Spring is the Recurring Sign of Hope

As I am writing this the sun is shining, students are making their way to school on this bright morning, the trees are near to having full leaves, and some birds have started a nest in a tree in the backyard. Things are pretty darned pleasant and I’m reminded that spring is the recurring sign of hope.

Hope is essential to the human spirit and hope which endures, it seems to me, must have God as its foundation. God provides a world wherein we can live and thrive. God provides wonder in what is made and in the rich diversity of species in plants and animals. God provides the rule that plants thrive in the spring and birds begin to build nests. The Bible says that God provides for all things in due time and under his care appointing an order to the world and all that is within it, even while making it crazy fun just to see how amazingly diverse the world can be. Yet, all that is in the world is under his guidance like a symphony is under the guidance of a skilled conductor. Perhaps that is a sort of child-like wonder, but I think that is the kind of wonder we can hold on to when we trust God as the Creator of all things. Some people think the world “just is” and doesn’t come from a loving Creator God but then it seems wonder and hope would have no real foundation.

Without a foundation, hope is likely to slowly fade away and maybe that is some of the problem we face in our times.